Not many would’ve held their nerve as Mukul Choudhary did under pressure, but Rishabh Pant noticed. The Lucknow Super Giants captain stood by his teammate’s performance with quiet approval. A calm spell at the death turned into something bigger than just overs and dots. It became about trust, shown through actions when it mattered most. For Rishabh Pant, that moment reflected more than skill; it revealed a mindset.

Tough situations bring out real shades of intent. His words afterwards carried weight without sounding loud. Simply put, he saw what others might miss: courage wearing ordinary pads and a jersey.

With 182 to reach, LSG stumbled to 104 for 5 in 12.5 overs before Mukul arrived. Then came a shift; his explosive stay at the crease changed everything. Scoring 54 not out from only 27 deliveries, he sent two boundaries racing and launched seven towering clears. Victory by three wickets landed in the last ball’s shadow.

“I do not have words… what a fantastic effort”: Rishabh Pant on Mukul

"I do not have words to describe but what a fantastic effort (from Mukul). One thing I made sure of is that personally, trust and when you believe in someone, a player can do wonders. The character, with each and every match like this, shows something is building. We don't want to talk much about it, but something is cooking inside," Rishabh Pant said at the post-match presentation.

Also Read: Mukul Choudhary holds nerve to rescue LSG in last ball finish against KKR

Pant also reserved special praise for Ayush Badoni, who played a crucial hand with a 34-ball 54 in the middle overs. “He is now a senior pro in our team. That is the role we have given him. In situations like these, these are the kind of contributions you want to see from Badoni,” he added.

KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted the loss was hard to digest but credited Mukul’s brilliance for the turnaround. “Tough one to take, but really proud of the boys. Mukul's knock was defining. Execution can go wrong in the final overs, but full credit to him for that partnership,” Rahane said.

He further explained the challenges in defending the total. “For them, it was nothing to lose; 30 needed off two overs, so it was all about swinging hard. A couple of balls were good, but he batted brilliantly. 180-odd wasn’t easy on this wicket. When you lose, you always look back at what could have been done better, but sometimes you just have to credit the batter,” he added.